Jays have 'a great weekend' at 2023 State Wrestling Tournament

FARGO — There are two things the Jamestown High School wrestling team has an abundance of — good wrestlers and character.

Both were showcased at the 2023 Class A State Wrestling Tournament.

While the Blue Jay boys wrestling team missed out on qualifying for the 2023 Class A State Dual Tournament, the Blue Jays had 19 members of its boys and girls wrestling teams qualify for the individual state tournament this season.

Matches didn't always go as planned, but JHS head boys wrestling coach Larry Eslick said he couldn't be prouder of his athletes.

"We had some heartbreaks in the tournament but the kids showed a lot of guts and character winning their last matches," Eslick said. "Watching Aden (Braun) and Colton (Mewes) fighting on and getting third was pretty emotional. They showed a lot of heart and a lot of character carrying the team through the wrestle backs."

Due to a nagging injury, Braun, the WDA Senior Athlete of the Year, didn't see much mat time until the new year rolled around. Even though he saw limited mat time, the defending 138-pound state champion wound up earning the No. 2 seed at 152-pounds.

Braun went 2-1 on the opening day of the state tourney and while the loss in the semis put him out of state title contention Braun rallied and roared back to top Century's Brayden Morris in the third place match. Braun won via a 5-4 decision.

Colton Mewes, the 2022 160-pound state champion, went a perfect 10-0 in the West Region this season. He wound up the 2023 170-pound West Region Champion. The senior powered through day No. 1 of the state tourney, going 2-0 in the opening round and quarterfinals.

Mewes, the second-seed, fell to third-seeded Waylon Cressell of West Fargo in the semifinals but like Braun, Mewes rebounded and delivered a pin on Century's Cole Radenz in the third-place match.

"The character of this team is incredible," Eslick said. "These eight seniors did so much for the program. It's incredible to see what they have sacrificed and what they've done to put Jamestown on the map."

The Blue Jay boys and girls teams started the weekend with 12 individuals out of 19 moving out of the opening round and into the quarterfinals.

On the girls side, Hannah Sjostrom was the Blue Jays' top wrestler, fell in the 170-pound semis but on Friday, the Blue Jay senior delivered a pin of Devils Lake's Isabelle Berg at the 2:00 mark of the first period to earn the third-place trophy.

Gracie Brecier placed sixth in the 190-pound division while in the heavyweights Alee Meza placed fifth. Mackenzie Stoddart picked a fifth-place finish at 130 pounds and Gabby Romans finished her season with a fifth-place plaque in the 155-pound bracket.

Eighth grader, Jack Schauer, wrestled his way to fourth place in the 106-pound division. At 160, Adyn Eckert earned enough wins to get him eighth place. Ethan Gall, a first-year varsity wrestler, finished out his high school career with a seventh-place performance at 220 pounds.

"With the injuries and the drama and everything we went through this year — to bring some new kids to the tournament and finish sixth as a team — that exceeded our expectations," Eslick said. "It was a great weekend. I am proud of how we wrestled. They finished strong. They never quit."

John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun

The conclusion of the Jays' 2022-23 wrestling season signals the end of a chapter for the eight seniors and their head coach.

"I am very honored to be a part of this team," Eslick said. "It's been a fun ride the last 23 years. The program is going to be in good hands with whoever takes it over."

After 23 years as a coach for the Blue Jay wrestling team, Eslick has made the decision to retire from coaching due to health reasons. Eslick was a longtime assistant coach under former head coach Greg White. He then took over the program in the early 2010s. Eslick's first season coaching came in the winter of 1999-2000.

Eslick has coached 15 athletes to state championships, the most recent being Jackson Walters who picked up the 182-pound state title on Friday evening.

Eslick has also been privileged to coach nearly 100 state tournament placers. In 2020, Eslick helped to guide the Jays back to the state tournament for the first time in 17 seasons. The return to the state dual tournament was followed by trips in 2021 and 2022.

Last year Jamestown had a program high of five semifinalists at the state level. 2022 marked the Jays' first time being named state-runners up of the individual tournament in 25 years. The Jays also tied the program record of nine state placers.

"We wanted to etch our name in the record books and we did. We didn't want wrestling to be an afterthought but a main sport and they did that. Sixth place as a team, a state champion and seven state placers — that's a pretty good day for anybody."

2023 Class A Boys State Individual Wrestling Tournament

Feb. 24

At Fargodome

Team results

1. Bismarck High 172.5; 2. Century 151.5; 3. Williston 145; 4. West Fargo 130; 5. West Fargo Sheyenne 125; 6. Jamestown 121.5; 7. Valley City 119.5; 8. Minot 114; 9. Fargo Davies 106; 10. Legacy 101; 11. St. Mary's 94.5; 12. Dickinson 78.5; 13. Fargo North 67; 14. Grand Forks Central 52; 15. Watford City 48; 16. Devils Lake 36.5; 17. Mandan 33; 18. TMCHS 28; 19. Breckenridge/Wahpeton 17; 20. Grand Forks Red River 3; 21. Fargo South 0.

Blue Jay results

106
1st Place - Nicolas Enzminger of Bismarck Legacy
2nd Place - Aaron Morris of Williston
3rd Place - Jake Glaser of Dickinson
4th Place - Jack Schauer of Jamestown
5th Place - Cole Sauvageau of Fargo Davies
6th Place - Alijah Piatz of Bismarck Century
7th Place - Grady Iverson of Bismarck Century
8th Place - Chase Clemenson of West Fargo Sheyenne

3rd Place Match: Jake Glaser (Dickinson) 30-11, Fr. over Jack Schauer (Jamestown) 32-13.

126
1st Place - Jesse Thompson of Bismarck Legacy
2nd Place - Marquis Richter of Mandan
3rd Place - Jack Coles of Williston
4th Place - Gage Glaser of Dickinson
5th Place - Owen Lindstrom of Devils Lake
6th Place - Pete Rasmussen of Jamestown
7th Place - Ethan Kuntz of Bismarck Century
8th Place - Ty Burton of Minot

5th Place Match: Owen Lindstrom (Devils Lake) 31-6, So. over Pete Rasmussen (Jamestown) 35-13, Sr. (Fall 3:22)

152
1st Place - John Richter of Bismarck St Mary`s
2nd Place - Tyler Porter of West Fargo
3rd Place - Aden Braun of Jamestown
4th Place - Brayden Morris of Bismarck Century
5th Place - Tate Olson of Bismarck
6th Place - Colin Parisien of Turtle Mountain
7th Place - Carter Zink of West Fargo Sheyenne
8th Place - Tyson Rice of Williston

3rd Place Match: Aden Braun (Jamestown) 16-3, Sr. over Brayden Morris (Bismarck Century) 34-14, Fr. (MD 15-6)

160
1st Place - LJ Araujo of Bismarck
2nd Place - Sawyer Carr of West Fargo Sheyenne
3rd Place - Harrison Grad of Bismarck St Mary`s
4th Place - Malachi Werremeyer of Fargo Davies
5th Place - David Erlandson of Breckenridge/Wahpeton
6th Place - Emery Slater of Mandan
7th Place - Jax Gums of Bismarck Century
8th Place - Adyn Eckart of Jamestown

7th Place Match: Jax Gums (Bismarck Century) 28-18, Sr. over Adyn Eckart (Jamestown) 18-25, Sr. (Fall 0:33)

170
1st Place - Waylon Cressell of West Fargo
2nd Place - Connor Manske of West Fargo Sheyenne
3rd Place - Colton Mewes of Jamestown
4th Place - Cole Radenz of Bismarck Century
5th Place - DeJarius Jones of Minot
6th Place - Hugh Meyer of Dickinson
7th Place - Jerys Burckhard of Bismarck Century
8th Place - James Bozovsky of Dickinson

3rd Place Match: Colton Mewes (Jamestown) 36-5, Sr. over Cole Radenz (Bismarck Century) 24-12, Sr. (TF-1.5 4:09 (20-5))

182
1st Place - Jackson Walters of Jamestown
2nd Place - Ty Wiedrich of Williston
3rd Place - William Ward of Fargo North
4th Place - Tate Estenson of Devils Lake
5th Place - Tyrus Jangula of Bismarck
6th Place - Kaleb Porter of West Fargo
7th Place - Max Cunningham of Minot
8th Place - Maddox Weigel of West Fargo Sheyenne

1st Place Match: Jackson Walters (Jamestown) 32-1, Sr. over Ty Wiedrich (Williston) 29-11, Jr. (Dec 3-2)

220
1st Place - Broden Muske of Valley City
2nd Place - Kaydn Turnbow of Minot
3rd Place - Landon Riely of Williston
4th Place - Ayden Schlafman of Bismarck
5th Place - Logan Moore of West Fargo
6th Place - Michael Torgerson of Grand Forks Central
7th Place - Ethan Gall of Jamestown
8th Place - Ryzon Allery of Turtle Mountain

7th Place Match: Ethan Gall (Jamestown) 22-21, Sr. over Ryzon Allery (Turtle Mountain) 8-10, So. (Fall 3:29)

2023 Class A Girls State Individual Wrestling Tournament

Feb. 24

At Fargodome

Team results

1. Bismarck High 189; 2. Minot 169; 3. Central Cass 156; 4. Legacy 140; 5. Grand Forks 95; 6. Bismarck Century 93; 6. Fargo 93; 8. Jamestown 80; 9. South Border 76; 10. Carrington 71.5; 11. Des Lacs-Burlington 66; 12. Valley City 65; 12. West Fargo United 65; 14. Napoleon/GS 62; 15. Lisbon 56; 16. Mandan 55; 17. Hettinger/Scranton 45; 18. Ellendale/EK 37; 19. Pembina County North 32; 20. New Salem-Almont 28; 21. Dickinson 27; 22. Harvey/Wells County 23; 23. LaMoure/LM 22; 23. Northern Cass 22; 23. White Shield 22; 26. MonDak 20; 27. Devils Lake 18; 28. Killdeer 17; 29. Northwood 13; 30. Williston 11; 31. Rugby 10; 32. Beulah-Hazen 6; 33. Beach 5; 34. Ray 3; 34. Standing Rock 3; 34. Stanley 3; 37. Hope Christian Academy 2; 37. Kindred 2; 39. TMCHS 1; 40. Hillsboro/CV 0; 40. Linton/HMB 0; 40. May-Port-C-G 0; 40. Velva 0.

Blue Jay results

130
1st Place - Lindsey Anderson of West Fargo United
2nd Place - Karissa Mann of Napoleon G-S
3rd Place - Grace Lemar of Central Cass
4th Place - Kaylee Kurz of Grand Forks
5th Place - Mackenzie Stoddart of Jamestown
6th Place - Taeghan Rittenbach of Bismarck
7th Place - Ellie Roseland of Hettinger/Scranton
8th Place - Morgan Schneider of Bismarck Legacy

5th Place Match: Mackenzie Stoddart (Jamestown) 29-15, Fr. over Taeghan Rittenbach (Bismarck) 27-15, Sr. (Fall 2:39)

155
1st Place - Emily Novak of Grand Forks
2nd Place - Lexi Beckler of Bismarck
3rd Place - Arianna Aguilar of Minot
4th Place - Jordan Flynn of Central Cass
5th Place - Paige Spomer of Bismarck Century
6th Place - Gabby Romans of Jamestown
7th Place - Jordyn Radasa of Williston
8th Place - Jasmine Schaeffer of Fargo

5th Place Match: Paige Spomer (Bismarck Century) 23-19, So. over Gabby Romans (Jamestown) 23-17, Jr. (Dec 3-2)

170
1st Place - Emma Buee of Des-Lacs Burlington
2nd Place - Alexis Storsved of Mandan
3rd Place - Hannah Sjostrom of Jamestown
4th Place - Isabelle Berg of Devils Lake
5th Place - Hannah Seefeld of Ellendale/Edgeley/Kulm
6th Place - Sadie Richmond of Minot
7th Place - Jaylee Jetty of Bismarck Century
8th Place - Lexiss Reynolds of Northwood

3rd Place Match: Hannah Sjostrom (Jamestown) 30-9, Sr. over Isabelle Berg (Devils Lake) 17-6, Jr. (Fall 2:00)

190
1st Place - Phoenix Lindseth of Bismarck Legacy
2nd Place - Cambree Anderson of Bismarck
3rd Place - Mekayla Stordalen of Bismarck Century
4th Place - Cassie Bartholomay of Central Cass
5th Place - Jade`ence Fletcher of Minot
6th Place - Grace Bercier of Jamestown
7th Place - Brooke Bundy of Valley City
8th Place - Kadyn Schuman of Grand Forks

5th Place Match: Jade`ence Fletcher (Minot) 15-5, 8th. over Grace Bercier (Jamestown) 17-21, So. (Fall 2:58)

250
1st Place - Catie Sinner of Central Cass
2nd Place - Danijah Moore of Minot
3rd Place - Love Hopkins of White Shield
4th Place - Belinda Perry of Bismarck Century
5th Place - Aleeona Meza of Jamestown
6th Place - Brinley Buechler of Bismarck
7th Place - Emma Osier of Fargo
8th Place - Morgan Harvey of Bismarck Century

5th Place Match: Aleeona Meza (Jamestown) 22-8, Sr. over Brinley Buechler (Bismarck) 27-16, Jr. (Fall 0:47)

For complete results please visit www.trackwrestling.com.